From Gayle-Force to a gentle breeze?

The star player in sports is often allowed more latitude than the ordinary player. The history of team sports is replete with instances of star players being permitted more infractions than their other team members. Their perceived value to the team and to the sport is such that in addition to operating under slackened rules for the most part, their trespasses are also much more easily forgiven.

The powers that be know that it's the stars that the customers clamour to see; they are the ones who sell the tickets, attract the sponsors, and get the public to fork out pay-per-view dollars. Take golf for instance: the worst thing that happened to the sport in recent years was Tiger Woods taking a leave of absence; and the best thing that happened to it was Tiger Woods coming back.

The superstar is also given more leeway whenever he stumbles into a poor patch of form. This is understandable. At his best, he is so much more effective than the run-of-the-mill player that he is normally given more time to return to his dominating best. But if the wretched performances linger then questions of loyalty will begin to emerge and, increasingly, the voices suggesting it may be time for separation grow louder and more numerous.

Since his rapprochement with the Caribbean cricket authorities and his return to the West Indies team, only sporadically has superstar-player Chris Gayle lived up to his billing. And after his very poor recent run his status within the team has come in for some scrutiny. Despite an ODI career average of almost 38 the tall left-hander has made only 26 runs per innings in the 26 games since his return, with only four scores over 50; and while he had a good T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, he has otherwise been less than spectacular. Ironically it is in Test cricket, the version for which he has expressed some indifference that he has done best in -- though it has to be mentioned that his six games were against New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh.

The Jamaican did power the West Indies to victory over Sri Lanka in a Celkon Mobile Cup match with 109 on his Sabina Park home ground, but since then his series of scores have been 11, 10, 14, 1, 1, 8, 30 and 21. The two last scores (30 and 21) were made batting at five in the order as the team showed concern for his inadequate showing by removing him from his customary opening position.

As expected, there have been quite a few theories seeking to explain his diminished production. One is that his game is founded upon supreme hand/eye coordination rather than textbook technique, and it is the interference of advanced age that has undermined his batting. But I have seen that accusation leveled against too many great players to be wary of its accuracy. Don Bradman and Vivian Richards, for example, were both said to lack good batting technique when they came on the scene, yet both remained productive into their forties.

Still, questions surrounding his method cannot be dismissed out of hand. He is neither quick nor very mobile on his feet. As a consequence, we have seen him restricted by good spin bowlers and by pacers bowling to hit his bat high but not short enough to give him time to rock back and play cross-batted shots. Bowl full to him, especially on low bouncing surfaces, and he will make the ball disappear repeatedly, like he did in during his record 175 off 66 balls in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) - an innings probably more brutal than any played in the game's history. And we are unlikely to witness such an awesome display of clean hitting again - unless, of course, Gayle decides to repeat the dose. Bowlers will naturally take whatever means they can devise to keep him in check.

While Gayle's IPL employers have little reason to complain about his services, his West Indies fans have had reason to feel short-changed when the world's most destructive batsman dons the maroon uniform. Of late, their patience has been wearing thin. His Kingston hundred came after 14 games of scores less than 40, and his highest score since then has been 30 in eight matches.

Obviously, the wait between decent performances has been much too long. Much more is required from thesStar player and any other batsman would have found himself under severe pressure to retain his place. Sarwan, a player with a reasonably good international record, was discarded after three poor ODI games in Australia. Recalled for the Champion's Trophy in England, he was again shown the door after having three poor games. But the Guyanese stylist possesses nothing like Gayle's potential for mayhem and is therefore much more expendable.

The issue now for Gayle and the selectors is this: how long will he be allowed to continue his spotty form? His ability for single-handed destruction is well known, but whether the opposition is now able to quell his effectiveness or he is just not the force he was, he might no longer be as feared. The oncoming locomotive is not as dangerous if it is likely to run aground, or if its path can be easily avoided.

The Caribbean Premier League has only just begun and fans could well see the imposing opener in all his six-hitting glory. That will be small consolation. The real test is when he is once again in the West Indies' colours playing against worthwhile opposition. How will he do then? How long will West Indian fans have to wait for some consistency from its star player?